Crime

An inmate who escaped U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater for about 24 hours last year was sentenced Monday to serve another 18 months in federal prison as a result of the escape, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

A Los Banos man wanted for questioning in connection with the slaying and decapitation of a Merced County woman in Washington state may be on his way to Las Vegas in a Honda Civic coupe, authorities said Friday.

Merced school leaders and police issued a joint statement late Wednesday in an effort to ensure parents that children are safe at school despite recent social media chatter that has continued to spark fear of erroneous threats.